Cole becomes lone player locked into Heat 2014-15 payroll

MIAMI — In a quirk of the Miami Heat's salary structure, third-year point guard Norris Cole has become the first, and only, player locked into the team's 2014-15 payroll.

The Heat announced Tuesday they have picked up the $2,038,206 fourth-year option for 2014-15 on Cole's rookie-scale contract.

Every other player on the Heat's current roster either has a player option or early-termination option for 2014-15 on their contracts, or are already scheduled to become a free agent on July 1, 2014.

The Heat had until Oct. 31 to make their decision on Cole, the No. 28 pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. The other options Heat players hold on their contracts are due to be exercised after the season.

While there have been plenty of uneven moments over Cole's first two seasons, there also have been consecutive NBA championships.

"I'm just controlling what I can control, that's just producing on the court," Cole said. "I'm just doing what I can do to show I'm worthy of being here, of being on this team."

Cole has appeared in 145 career games (six starts) and averaged 6.1 points, 2.0 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 19.7 minutes while shooting .407 percent from the field. Last season, he led the Miami reserves in assists 37 times, steals on 29 occasions, points 12 times and in rebounds and minutes six times each. In his two seasons, Cole has appeared in 40 postseason games while averaging 4.1 points, 1.4 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 14.7 minutes.

He was originally drafted by Minnesota before his draft rights were acquired by the Heat in a 2011 draft-night trade.